Washington to Sanction Lebanon’s Bassil for Hezbollah Ties

US might impose sanctions on Gebran Bassil, Lebanon's former Foreign Minister, for assisting his ally, the Lebanese militant Shi'ite group Hezbollah.

“The U.S. is preparing to sanction former Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil for assisting his key ally, the pro-Iranian political movement Hezbollah,” a U.S. official said according to Wall Street Journal. “ The move is likely to upend attempts to form a new cabinet in crisis-ridden Lebanon.”

The sanctions have been approved by the US Treasury and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is expected to unveil the sanctions today on Friday.

It is reported that Bassil is the son-in-law of Lebanon’s president and head of the Christian-led FPM, Lebanon's Free Patriotic Movement, and also a former foreign minister.

Last September, the United States blacklisted two Lebanese ministers, claiming that they assisted Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.

About two weeks ago, the day after Prime Minister Saad Hariri was assigned to form the government, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Schenker, declared that Washington "will continue to impose sanctions on Hezbollah and its Lebanese allies and those involved in corruption."

“Political allies of Hezbollah should know that they will be held accountable for enabling its terrorist and illicit activity,” Schenker said. “Other corrupt actors will continue and we will use all available authorities to hold Lebanon’s leaders accountable for failing to live up to their obligations to the Lebanese people.”